24h Le Mans
Four former winners of Le Mans 24 Hours will be taking part in the 24th Tour Auto Optic 2000, which sets off from the Grand Palais in Paris on 20 April. Before they take to the roads of France, the cars will be on display at the Grand Palais, on the site of the very first motor show, which was held in 1901.
The Tour Auto has always attracted a number of well-known personalities from France and beyond, stars from the world of motor sports, but also Michelin starred chefs, singers, actors and authors. Motor racing fans come from all walks of life. This year, Felix Baumgartner, the daredevil skydiver, will be celebrating his 46th birthday on the first day.
The Austrian was the first man to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on descent thanks to a specially designed balloon and he has already tried his hand at motor racing. After a few single-brand races, Baumgartner entered the 24 Hours of Nürburgring last year with Audi teammates Frank Biela and Marco Werner, who together account for eight Le Mans 24 Hours wins.
The four former 24 hours winners in this year’s Tour Auto also have eight Le Mans victories between them. Yannick Dalmas, who won four times will be opening the race in a BMW M4, as will Gérard Larrousse who has two Le Mans wins to his name. The two other Le Mans winners are in the Compétition category: former Porsche factory driver Jürgen Barth (1977) will be at the wheel of a 1973 Porsche 911 while Jochen Mass will be in a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera.
The competitors will leave the Grand Palais on 20 April, heading for Vichy, Clermont-Ferrand, Toulouse, then Pau and are scheduled to reach Biarritz on 25 April.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO Translated by Emma Paulay
Photo: D.R. Archives ACO
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, 9 & 10 JUNE 1973. Gérard Larousse, centre, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973 with Henri Pescarolo in a Matra. Larousse will be opening the Tour Auto Optic 2000 this year.
